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Thoughts from the Jets-Redskins game in Landover, Maryland.
The Washington Redskins went down the field on their first drive which ended in a field goal.
There was not much pressure on Alex Smith with a rookie left tackle Gerald Christian starting for Trent Williams. When you have a raw rookie starting at left tackle, against your starting defense, you need to take advantage of him.
On two of the passes on this drive, a 16-yard gain to TE Vernon Davis on the left sideline, and a 13-yarder to RB Rob Kelly over the middle, Darron Lee was a tick late getting over in coverage. Then had a horse-collar on the punt return that followed by Lee, Then on the next series he got taken out by an offensive linemen on long yard run by Samaje Perine. He needs to start playing better . . .
Sam Darnold was okay, but he’s still a work in progress.
On a fourth-and-two he forced a pass into double coverage to WR Jermaine Kearse – the pass had little chance of working and was picked off by safety Troy Apke.
As Bill Parcells would say, “Don’t put him in Canton just yet fellas.” . . .
On the Jets’ first possession, on second-down, Sam Darnold ran a bootleg right and OLB Ryan Kerrigan was all over it, and Darnold needed to throw it away. Here is the deal people – Kerrigan saw the Jets’ running bootlegs to the right side all week. He was pretty prepared for it after practicing with the Jets all week . . .
In the third quarter, the Jets were playing Dakota Dozier at left tackle on Teddy Bridgewater’s blindside. Backup OLB Pete Robertson blew by Dozier and hit Bridgewater in the back of his knees as he threw. Jets are lucky he didn’t get hurt, especially with a reconstructed knee. At the end of the third quarter, Dozier gave up a sack to LB Jared Hernandez. Considering Bridgewater is coming off a serious knee injury, they need to come up with a better plan to protect his blindside.
Dozier is a good guard, but not an NFL offensive tackle.
It shows you what the Jets think of Antonio Garcia, a left tackle by trade. If they were high on Garcia, why would they be playing a guard at left tackle protecting Bridgewater’s blindside in the the third quarter. Garcia did come in for the fourth quarter, and was a little inconsistent. He needs to do a better job recognizing who he is supposed to block . . .
I know he had two penalties tonight, but how can you not like how OLB Frankie Luvu plays the game? One of the penalties was him lighting up QB Colt McCoy as he was throwing. The other was for leading with his head on a tackle.
But on the last Redskins’ drive of the third quarter, he stopped a double reverse for a loss of seven, and drew a holding call bringing back a long run . . .
Running back George Atkinson III is making a strong case for a roster spot – he was terrific as runner, receiver and on special teams.
He has a nice combination of size and speed and runs routes like a receiver and has very soft hands . . .
August 16, 2018
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